Window cleaner



Searcn 00 -& GENERAL CLEANING.

Jam 1947. o. H. BERGER WINDOW CLEANER Filed March 29, 1944 OSCAR H. BERGER,

61 GENERAL CLEANlNG.

Patented Jan. 7, 1947 UUUIUH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to window cleaners, and has for one of its objects to provide a device of this character which will be simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and more eflicient in use than those which have been heretofore proposed.

More particularly, the cleaner is of the type wherein opposed complemental cleaning elements are adapted to operate simultaneously upon opposite surfaces of a window pane, and a further object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby cleaning of the perimetric portions of the pane, where it meets and is supported by the sash members, may be insured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a manually operable window cleaning device of the class described the operation of which will be less fatiguing upon the operator than that of similar prior devices.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel details of construction, and novel combinations of parts, more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a typical embodiment of the invention, illustrating it in operative position in relation to a window pane;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device as seen from the right of Fig. 1, the view being partly in section upon approximately the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking down;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the blocklike members which mount the cleaning elements; and

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of one of the cleaning elements.

As will be understood from the said drawing, the device comprises a U-shaped frame adapted to straddle a sash and pane from either the top or the bottom, which frame includes a pair of spaced parallel arms I0 and H, the latter of which is substantially L-shaped with its short leg l2 being provided with a hinge connection l3 by means of which the lower end of the arm I0 is pivotally connected thereto for swinging movements of said arm toward and from the companion arm H. Such movements are effected or controlled by a lever l5, here shown as of channel cross section (see Fig. 3) to embrace the arm H on which it is pivotally mounted as at It. The said lever is formed at its top with a grip portion l1 and at its lower end with angularly disposed extensions l8 which carry a pin l9 which rides in slots 20 provided in ears 2| of a bracket 22 rigidly carried by the arm Ill. As indicated in Fig. 1, by moving the lever [5 on its pivot l6 to and from the broken line position shown in said figure, the arm [0 may be correspondingly swung from and toward the arm ll.

At their upper ends the arms l0 and H are formed for readily detachable connection either to extension members 25 or directly to the cleaning heads 26. The detachable connections here shown are more or less conventional, comprising socket members 21 carried by the extension members 25, and similar sockets 28 carried by the heads 26, either of which sets of sockets may slidably receive and frictionally engage the upper ends of the arms Ill and II. Thus, for larger windows the extension members 25 may be interposed between the arms H), II and the cleaning heads 26, while for smaller windows the said extension pieces may be removed and the heads 26 mounted directly on the ends of the said arms.

The cleaning heads are duplicates, each comprising a spindle 30 extending upwardly from the connecting member 28 and having a block like member 3| rotatably and slidably mounted upon it, to the opposite side faces of which block the cleaning elements 32 are readily detachably secured. One of the said cleaning elements may be a sponge 34, while the other element preferably comprises a pad of felt, napped or hooked fabric, or the like. The said sponges and pads may be alternatively positioned to engage the surfaces of a window pane 36 by turning the block 3| on the spindle 30 to bring the desired element adjacent the pane, as will be readily understood. The block may be retained in position to present either element to the pane by a suitable detent, such for example as a pin 31 carried by the spindle 30 and engageable in a groove or recess 38 formed in the adjacent face of the block. A spring 39 interposed between the opposite face of the block and a nut 40 threaded on the spindle yieldingly maintains engagement between the pin and groove.

As here shown, the means for readily detachably mounting the cleaning elements 32 on the block member 3| comprise keys 4| carried by and projecting from the opposite side faces of the said block, and slots 42 formed in the rear plates 33 of the cleaning elements. As will be readily understood, in assembly the heads of the keys 4| are introduced through the said slots, and the elements 32 are then turned through an angle of 90 to position the slots crosswise of the key heads. The plates 33 may be provided with apertures or recesses 43 adapted to be engaged by the pins 44 in this position, whereby unintentional turning of the elements 33 and disengagement of the parts may be prevented. The connection is such as to permit slight play or wobble of the cleaning elements whereby they may accommodate themselves to the pane surfaces as they are moved thereover.

A U-shaped ball 45 is pivotally attached as at 46 to the arms Ill and H, and serves as a means for assisting in moving the cleaner over the pane 36. That is to say, with the device grasped in one hand at the grip 11, thereby squeezing the sponges 34 or pads 35 against opposite surfaces of the pane 36, movement over the pane, particularly in lateral directions, may be facilitated by grasping the bail 45 in the other hand and pushing or pulling longitudinally of the bail. By thus distributing the work between the two hands of the operator, operation of the cleaner is appreciably less tiring than it would be were the movements accomplished solely by the hand grasping the grip H.

The ball also affords a means whereby the heads 26 may be manipulated to insure cleaning of the perimetric portions of the pane. That is to say, should the heads get out of substantial alinement whereby the cleaning element on one of the heads may fail to get into the corner where the pane meets the sash frame, such element may be manipulated and forced into the corner by pushing or pulling upon the bail. Thus, complete cleaning of the perimetric portions of both surfaces of the pane may be insured.

The bail 45 is constructed of material having some resilience, and in its free state its side mem bers 41 preferably diverge somewhat, in a direction away from the cross bar 48. Thus, the bail may further serve as a spring tending to move the arm l and lever I to the broken line positions of Fig. 1; but when the arm II and the grip ll of lever l5 are grasped in the hand of the operator, the parts will be forced to the full line positions of Fig. 1 and the cleaning elements 34 or 35 squeezed against the pane.

To further relieve strain upon the operator, 2. spring catch 50 may be provided on the lever l5,

the bolt of which is adapted to engage a serrated lug 5| carried by the frame arm I l and projecti through an opening 52 in the said lever. Thus, when the parts have been brought to the full line positions of Fig. 1, they will be latched therein, and substantially the only muscular effort required of the hand grasping the grip I! will be that necessary to traverse the device over the pane.

While one form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction as well as the precise arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it'is not wished to be limited to the above disclosure except as may be required by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window cleaner, the combination of a U-shaped frame having alined arms adapted to straddle a pane; cleaning elements carried by said arms for engagement with opposite surfaces of the pane, said frame being manipulatable by one hand of the operator to traverse said cleaning elements over the pane surfaces; and a baillike member adapted to straddle the pane and having its ends pivotally attached to the respective frame arms, said member being operable by the other hand of the operator to apply additional traversing force to the arms in the plane of the pane surfaces and to vary their alinement whereby to insure engagement of the cleaning elements with the peripheral portions of the said surfaces.

2. In a window cleaner having a frame comprising a pair of pivotally connected spaced arms adapted to straddle a pane, and cleaning elements carried by said arms for engagement with opposite surfaces of the pane, said frame being operable by one hand of the operator to traverse the cleaning elements over the pane surfaces: a bail pivotally attached to said arms, operable by the other hand of the operator to apply additional traversing force to the arms in the plane of the pane surfaces and to vary the alinement of the arms, said bail being resilient and tending to spread the arms from one another; and a lever carried by one of the arms and operatively connected to the other arm, said lever being operable in grasping the frame with said first named hand, to draw the arms toward one another against the spreading action of the bail.

QSCAR H. BERGER. 

